"So, what do you want for dinner?"
"I don't know... something with chicken in it?"
"Chinese?"
"Nah, too salty."
"Fried?"
"Too fatty."
"Pasta?"
"That's all carbs!"
"How about a veggie stir fry?"
"The peppers hurt my stomach and the soy sauce gives me a headache."
"Curry?"
"Mmph, too hot."
"Salad?"
"Too cold. I want something cooked."
"Soup?"
"All the good ones are cream-based."
"What's wrong with that?"
"I'm lactose intolerant. You know that!"
"Honestly, it's hard to keep up."
"...."
"...."
"...."
"So..." [sigh] "Boston Market again?"
"And pick up some brownies for dessert."
******
(If you have to ask who's who after that, then CLEARLY you don't know us at all. ;))
******
******
And hey, IN MY DEFENSE, while I do enjoy being fickle, it doesn't help when you have conflicting health issues for which the world tells you you can't eat gluten, dairy, carbs, preservatives, sugars, something called nightshades?, citrus, nuts, beans, eggs, spices, most veggies, most fruit, and on, and on, and on.
Every few months when I get tired of the stomach aches and vow to eat a little better I google this AIP thing all the Hashi boards say I need to follow (Slogan: "All the bone broth you can drink!") or the FODMAPS list for my IBS ("An apple a day WILL LITERALLY KILL YOU.") followed by all the things I should be avoiding because of my GERD and IC ("Everything those other lists didn't ban yet, MWUAHAHAAA!") Then I go have a good cry before eating a McDonald's hamburger, because:
TRUTH.
So far my "eating better" compromise is to eat a lot of roasted chicken, potatoes, and green beans - one of the few veggies we've found that doesn't hurt my stomach. And also brownies, because what am I, superhuman? Plus a ton of apples, because screw you, FODMAPS. It's an APPLE. I like apples.
(Speaking of, have you guys tried these Envy apples from New Zealand? John just brought some home, and SWEET NECTAR OF HEAVEN. Step aside, Gala and Honeycrisp!)
(Speaking of, have you guys tried these Envy apples from New Zealand? John just brought some home, and SWEET NECTAR OF HEAVEN. Step aside, Gala and Honeycrisp!)
So tell me, gang: what's one small change you've made to your eating that's made you feel better? And please don't say "Go gluten-free," because a) THAT'S NOT SMALL, and b) I tried that. I mean something do-able for mere mortals who currently eat a lot of take-out. A baby step. Like pre-making lunches or finding an awesome fruit-infuser bottle so you drink more water. How about some favorite desserts that are a *little* healthier than brownies, or Mega Easy breakfast plans? What's your go-to snack? Favorite non-soda, non-caffeinated beverage? Weirdest "healthy" thing you've tried and ended up liking? (Food, people. I'm talking about food.) TELL MEEEE.
I'm not trying to lose weight or overhaul my life here; I just want an easy win with a chance of feeling a little better.
... any ideas?
Um, well, if you like brownies, Chocolate Covered Katie does some really yummy zucchini brownies I make when I'm wanting chocolate but not guilt. http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/05/31/healthy-chocolate-fudge-zucchini-brownies/
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I drink a lot of water (sometimes infused with lemon and cayenne or ginger), eat quinoa and farro instead of pastas, and smoke weed. It's legal here!
Seriously, the thing that got me to drink more water was a Contigo. It's an expensive drink hold from Target. (I get the kind with the no leak lid. You push a button on the side in order to drink.) That thing keeps my ice most of the day and keeps my water cold. I never thought of myself as someone who liked cold water (in fact, I used to prefer tepid water). HOWEVER, I drink LOTS more cold water than I do tepid water, so evidence indicates that I don't know myself at all.
ReplyDeleteThere's also an app to drink more water that I tried, but it had a little plant that grew every time you drank water and died if you didn't drink enough. I cried and deleted that app. Sometimes my son and I play a drinking hydration game, where you drink some water every time you die in Overwatch :)
I just got myself a Contigo water bottle and discovered the same thing! My stomach tends to get angry at me if I drink too much water (no idea why), but ice water doesn't hurt as much.
DeleteI'm the same way! Water actually makes me nauseous. It's better if it's super cold.
DeleteInstead of candy bars I try to do bars made with nuts, honey, the good chocolate, etc. It's still just as high in sugar and fat, but the source/type of the sugars and fats are healthier.
ReplyDeleteRight now I quit beer for a month. We drink every weekend, sometimes in a week night if we have a reunion with friends... but my stomach isn't happy about it anymore :( so I decided "just one month" XD I'm in my second week and it feels good, I can even wake up early if needed after a party night!!! Also I decided to drink less soda, whichs means no more coca cola for me :( but I'm more forgiving with this, I'd only drink it if there's no other option, no water, no lemonade, no nothing. It's easier this way since I CAN drink coke, just not every time one is in my way XD
ReplyDeleteMy sis introduced me to this coconut water: http://www.tastenirvana.com/ Previously, I thought coconut water tasted pretty horrible, but I love this brand. So tasty.
ReplyDeleteTry veggies that are new or we "don't like", but ROASTED. If you don't like them roasted, then you probably really don't like them.
ReplyDeleteFor dessert, a single Trader Joe's Honey Mint (like their version of a York Peppermint Patty, but only 3 ingr), eaten in very tiny bites over a few minutes.
+1 to "all veggies are better roasted"! I could wax poetic about those suckers.
Delete+2 on the roasted veggies.
Delete+3 on roasting veggies! We toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and then roast them. Root veggies are especially yummy this way, but my 9 yr old goes crazy over brussel sprouts when they're roasted. Of course, he also likes them with a little bacon tossed in, because everything is better with bacon.
Delete+4 on roasted veggies!
Delete+5 BEST way to eat brussel sprouts.
DeleteHave you tried cutting out soda. I did that and my tummy thanked me.
ReplyDeleteYes, back when I gave up caffeine 8 or 9 years ago. I was never a big soda fan, so that one wasn't too hard.
DeleteSeltzer with some lemon or apple juice in it is super good.
DeleteI traded out my delicious (and kind of terrible for me) granola bar for breakfast at work habit with home made bran muffins. I like baked goods best for quick breakfasts, but I knew buying store-made blueberry muffins wouldn't actually be any healthier, so this was my middle ground.
ReplyDeleteThis recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe is great, and I add things like cinnamon and/or pumpkin pie spice along with fruit (apples, strawberries) to liven it up. This past batch I added shredded carrots which you couldn't even taste but made me feel even healthier. And they're super tasty!
https://www.melskitchencafe.com/healthy-and-delicious-refrigerator-bran-muffins/
Those sound good! But then, I've never met a muffin I didn't like. :D
DeleteI have basically the same recipe, but I'm also badly lactose intolerant. So instead of buttermilk, I use almond milk with a little vinegar or lemon juice to "curdle" it. And I use Earth Balance Original butter substitute. Everything bakes beautifully.
DeleteTo start, hugs to you, because food issues are no joke! I've been having gastric issues for years, going back to when I was in grade school. I started doing more research and a friend introduced me to the Ketogenic lifestyle, or way of eating. In short, you don't eat certain inflammatory foods. And while not eating sugar, grains, most fruit, high carb veggies, grains, may seem like you are going to starve, you won't! The keto lifestyle is essentially a high healthy fat, moderate protein and low carb way of eating. I eat some amazing food and I never feel deprived. My issues with bloating, indigestion, brain fog, sleeping issues, and acne have so greatly improved I will never not follow this lifestyle. There is no such thing as an essential carb, but our food pyramid is outdated and backed by some shady corporations/big pharma. Everyone should do their own research, so I'm not telling you to do this to feel better. It's just another avenue you may want to research for yourself. Most people who have not researched the ketogenic lifestyle will confuse being in ketosis with diabetic ketoacidosis, the latter being a major medical issue. A good website for further research is www.ketovangelist.com . I wish you luck in finding something that makes you feel better!!!
ReplyDeleteI second the Keto lifestyle as being life altering. I am 2 months in, down almost 35 lbs (had a situation where keto foods were just not available to me for 6 days and gained a bit back) and raring to keep going. always feel satisfied and have saved a ton of money as I never eat out any more! But i will say it's not "easy" per se. You pretty well have to cook your own food, though that could be because I am a vegetarian so I can't just hold the bun like a meat eater can. Definitely worth looking into, Jen!
DeleteThirding the keto way of life! I ate that way for about a 3 weeks before getting pregnant (where morning sickness effectively stopped me from eating meat for a month or so)...and will be going back to the lifestyle as soon as I need to go grocery shopping. When I was eating that way, I lost 15 pounds easily, had way more energy, never got "hangry" anymore, and slept SO easily. It was amazing and I can't wait to go back.
Delete@LaurenKE I've been looking into the keto lifestyle but I'm vegetarian too so thought it was contradicting.. perhaps I need more research.
DeleteVegetarian keto is totally doable. It takes a bit more work if you want to really go low carb, but I've been doing it for a while, & I like it. Weirdly, the less carbs I eat, te more dairy I can tolerate. Cheese used to kill me, but now I have no problems with it. There's a vegetarian keto Reddit, which has a lot of good info.
DeleteYou can make your own brownies substituting have the butter/marg/oil with unsweetened apple sauce. The bonus is that the brownie is moister with less fat. If you google for a recipe, the type you are looking for requires only one bowl and can be mixed by hand (so simple my young nephews can make it). And splurge on the high quality cocoa.
ReplyDeleteFor me switching my soups from cream based to coconut milk based has been the best! It's crazy good. Also, I make a big batch of soup in my crockpot on sunday's (no cream or coconut milk, just all the veggies I like/want plus broth for three hours and then mixing it with a wand mixer) that I then freeze in mason jars and heat up for dinner the rest of the week. Sometimes I'll pan-fry some halloumi cheese to go with it. Easy and delicious! /Mary D.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you purchase halloumi cheese? I've been wanting to try some but I can't find it anywhere :(
DeleteI guess it depends on what kinds of fruits/veggies you can eat.. But I found that pre-making smoothie bags or mason jars and putting them in the freezer made for awesomely easy breakfasts/snacks. Something like: http://livesimply.me/2015/08/17/prep-day-4-simple-ways-to-make-smoothies-in-advance/
ReplyDeleteThere are LOTS of pinterest recipes for mason-jar smoothies :). They've been a life saver for me!
Someone suggested that probiotics could help my tummy issues and I tried kombucha and ended up really liking it. But we know how well that experiment went last time for you ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've started keeping more healthy snacks around, so I can just munch here and there rather than letting myself get insanely hungry and then eat ALL. THE. THINGS. Trader Joe's has great dried fruit - I like the mango and the cherries - and trail mix and little peanut butter filled pretzels. And munching like that helps keep the hangry-ness at bay.
Also - if you have a TJ's nearby - they have green beans you can microwave right in the bag - easy peasy. Other stores probably have them, too. And the rotisserie chickens from the grocery store are pretty reasonable. I like to get them and shred them up and then I have chicken to add to soups, salads, whatever.
This: https://food52.com/recipes/8565-mujaddara-with-spiced-yogurt
ReplyDeleteFeel free to skip the many ingredients in the yogurt sauce. Any sauce at all is good. It takes time to cook the onions, but it is a snap, makes a ton, and has like 5 ingredients. We ALWAYS have the ingredients SO we can throw it together for dinner or lunch. Put some grilled or roasted veggies (green beans, beets, carrots) on it, pile a salad next to it, or eat with roast chicken. It's filling and keeps really well in the fridge.
Bonus: it's gluten-free, and pretty g-d healthy, what with those lentils.
I bought a SodaStream years ago and have never looked back. I drink at least 64 ounces of seltzer a day, spiked with a couple of packets of TrueLime. All the fizz and flavor, none of the sugar and caffeine.
ReplyDeleteThis, I love my sodastream! I make mine with a bit of frozen concentrate juice, so still a bit of sugar, but no where near as much as I when I was drinking lots of soda every day.
DeleteI was going to write in and say this!! Sodastream... I don't put in any of the packets; I drink it with lemon or lime slices. Or lime and fresh raspberries, that then get nice and fizzy. ;)
DeleteI started eating a proper breakfast a couple of years ago and have been able to stick with it because I love it. Kellogg's Protein Cereal & plain greek yogurt. 1 cup of cereal mixed with the small container of yogurt. It is sooo yummy. Drives the family crazy though as I have to make sure it is all evenly distributed through the cereal. Takes a while. I consider it meditating.
ReplyDeleteThe reason my DH is the cook at our house? Because as much as I like yummy new foods, I'm lazy and perfectly happy eating almost the same thing every day as infinitum. I have salmon and cream cheese on toast with a side of fruit every morning, and when DH is gone I eat variations on tostada every night. If your overall diet is balanced, I see no shame in eating what you can eat even if it is variations on a small theme. Variety may be the spice of life, but if that spice eats a while in yours stomach, it's not worth it.
ReplyDeleteAs for drinks, we run through a lot of sparkling water at my house, I didn't used to like it, but Im a cconvert now, all the fizz and special feelings of a soda, none of the guilt and dehydration. Plus when Perrier goes on sale I can pretend to be a classy broad. Also kombucha, sounds weird, but crazy refreshing and supposedly good for your guts.
I just read a review of this book: The Wellness Project: How I Learned to Do Right by My Body, Without Giving Up My Life by Phoebe Lapine. It looks interesting enough to put in my Amazon cart. My husband and I have a similar conversation about dinner almost every night. My current battle with Diverticulitis has eliminated a lot of food options for me.
ReplyDeleteI just read this---and she has Hashi! It's worth a read, it's all about small and lasting changes to improve how you feel.
DeleteHummus with some type of pita chip or other dipping agent. But maybe that's on your nightshade list. Drat.
ReplyDeletefavorite snack: goldfish. (someone told me they heard they were a terrible thing to eat. I read the ingredients, and, no, they're totally normal. they make me happy)
ReplyDeletefavorite drink: iced peppermint tea. or the iced herbal teas from Barnes & Noble, especially the raspberry.
favorite fast food: superfood side from chick-fil-a (never used to eat there much, but I can't get enough of this salad), and the Power Mediterranean salad from Wendy's
I also recently switched to almond milk, and I'm pretty happy with that decision.
(not a fellow sufferer, as such, but you did say you wanted easy, small changes that helped. I have been reducing, and these things are a big part of why that's working for me. also the no milk thing actually does have me feeling better, even though I eat cheese every day, and didn't think I had a dairy problem.)
So I know what goldfish crackers are, but they're not really a thing round my way - can't recall ever having seen them in a shop - so they're not the first thing I think of when I see the word 'goldfish'.
DeleteSo yes, I absolutely, for about 2 seconds, read literally 'favourite snack: goldfish'...
Tomatoes are of the nightshade family. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteRecently I had hummus, and I liked it... Weird....
So are all peppers except ground and potatoes.
DeleteI LOVE baked avocado. Slice it in half, put a little garlic salt or Lowrey's on it, bake it in the oven for a bit. Taaaaasty. Easy. It goes well with a protein or a salad (I like you NEED WARM THINGS TO EAT).
ReplyDeleteI like baked avocado halves with an egg cracked into the middle. Awesome for breakfast or dinner!
DeleteMy favorite thing is ice cream, especially in the summer. But a healthier but still satisfying substitute that I have found is ~100 calorie store brand fudge pops. They are chocolates enough to be satisfying but much lighter than ice cream, and who doesn't like a popsicle! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't necessarily sound easy, but it has been very easy for me, and has had huge benefits. I started intermittent fasting. I had done it before with no success, but paired with a lower calorie limit (1500 now, compared to "eat whatever you want in your feeding window" before) i am losing upwards of 2 lbs per day (this is not a concern...i have about 150 to go, so larger losses are expected). I only eat between 5:30 and 9:30 pm. It's a 20:4 IF plan, also called the warrior diet. I tend to eat a bit less as I can't usually get all of my calories in in the feeding window, and somehow it really has just made sense for my body. During the day, I do have coffee with a bit of cream and i drink water according to thirst, but I don't eat at all. Of course I do find myself feeling hungry during the day, but it's definitely not distracting or overly uncomfortable. It's even easier on work days, as I am generally more distracted and don't have access to snacky foods at my desk.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this is made even easier by the fact that i often cook large batches of food and freeze for later use. Tonight I will be having a slice of lasagna and a couple of egg cups for dinner which I made about a month ago. I don't have to cook, and I don't have to wait for it to be ready, as I am usually pretty hungry when I get home from work and waiting to prepare food will mean snacking on less optimal items!
I keep doing unintentional IF, having only one meal or two per day, simply because being on keto makes it disturbingly easy. As someone who tried so very hard to lose weight a few years before and had to work out for two hours at high intensity every day plus being on around 1k kcal (calculations claimed I should eat 1500 to be at my ideal weight), this is kind of infuriating. PCOS, diabetes, rheumatism, and thyroid issues run in my family, and while not feeling my joints ache so much now is nice, I can't but help feel a little angry about how horribly misinformed I was. I eat so damn much fat now along with my veggies and protein, and I used to avoid eating fat so much in the past aside from the recommended bare minimum. Now I don't do the meticulously calculating all the calories and macros, and I'm still losing weight without even trying. Better yet being how much better I physically feel and how consistently great my poops are, despite that I already ate plenty of fiber and veg before trying keto. Just, damn. I wish keto had been common knowledge decades ago, because Atkins' always just came across as a crazy 'eat all the processed meat products and cheese and nothing else' bullshit when it was trendy two decades or so ago (I now know that was just the moron version of Atkins).
DeleteFrozen grapes are a fantastic sweet snack. They never get too hard, so you can eat them right out of the freezer. Plus they get the cool little frosted look after they've been out for a minute...
ReplyDeleteFrozen grapes is the best candy! Or at least one of them!
DeleteFrozen raspberries are also wonderful (I like a little sugar and a lot of balsamic vinegar on mine but they're good just as-is, too. Let thaw for 5-10 minutes before consuming if you're less hardcore about the fro-razz.)
DeleteOn a slightly healthier note, frozen peas are yummy little bites of cold fresh-veggie goodness. They almost remind me of fresh pod peas straight off the vine, in a way that "fresh" peas from the supermarket don't.
Kimstu
Baked or whole grain chips over the regular fried ones. I actually think they taste better and I don't feel as gross afterwards. I also like throwing chia seeds and/or ground flax into my yogurt or smoothies and some baked goods. I don't notice a change, but they can be a little crunchy, which I love!
ReplyDeletePacking lunches the night before. It's so much easier when I don't have to do the mental gymnastics at work. "Oh yeah, I have lunch. *noms*" is way better for my mental state than "this has cheese, this is spicy, but I don't want to eat just chips and hummus again..."
ReplyDeleteAlso, this is a bigger change, but I'm really into Intuitive Eating. There's a new workbook out I'm going to be doing in a group; so far, I'm kind of winging it, but already reaping benefits. Listening to what my body is hungry for and giving myself permission to eat it also helps cut down on the mental load of choices I have.
Really, a lot of my life around food is reducing the infinite choices down to a few ideas :D My roommate has learned not to ask "what do you want on your burger" but instead "Do you want ketchup or relish?" (I got this idea from advice for toddlers, by the way)
I'm have become a big fan of rice and eat it instead of bread or other wheat based products, it helps with that "I need carbs NOW" feeling and it doesn't aggravate my wheat allergy symptoms.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't eating... but I gave up diet soda as a new years tradition in 2015. I haven't regretted it since. The first two months were rough, but I don't crave soda any more and just stick with ginger ale or water.
ReplyDeleteSeaweed chips for the last category.
ReplyDeleteI started having a smoothie fro breakfast as part of a weight-loss plan, and I've continued because it's so satisfying: filling, refreshing, and I don't have to think about it. Almond milk, protein powder (I buy from an Arbonne distributor because it's not gritty, and tastes good), and frozen berries. I like it thick, like a milk shake! sometimes I'll make it with frozen pumpkin puree, or go for a creamsicle, or Dole whip, or mocha flavor.
ReplyDeleteBaba ganoush is eggplant, which is nightshade, but hummus is typically chickpeas, which are not.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to eat better this week (hah, prompted by a visit to my doctor) and last weekend I prepared a big pot of overnight oats for breakfast (rather than cereal which just left me hungry), a sweet potato and onion soup (no cream but creamy because it also has white beans and was blended) and these snack bars:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/hemp-seed-apricot-chews
(used pumpkin seeds rather than hemp seeds). This all didn't take too long on Sunday and set us up for beginning of the week.
I also bought whole wheat pita pockets, lettuce, veggie burgers, and a roasting chicken. I roasted the chicken with potatoes Monday night, and made a garlic yogurt sauce. Roasting a chicken is pretty easy once you've figured out the trussing and if you have a meat thermometer.
All of these components provided easy lunches and dinners for my husband through today (super w/toasted pita, chicken with potatoes and light salad, pita with veggie burger and greens, chicken pita with greens & garlic sauce.) I would've cooked one more dish to supplement it all last night but we're going out of town this weekend.
I think this is something I could keep up with though, using different recipes but the same kinds of modules.
Let me tell you a funny story about nightshades.
ReplyDeleteMy mom makes a MEAN avocado chocolate mousse/pudding thing (dairy-free!) and prepared it one day for a mother/daughter outing at a local vineyard with my best friend and her mother. Our parents have been friends for 35 years and my mom knows that the other mom is allergic to eggplant.
We bring the mousse and tell the ladies to try it before we'll tell them what's in it. My friend dives in and raves about it but can't place the ingredients. Her mom is about to dig in but says "There isn't eggplant right... or any other nightshade?" and my mother's face totally drops.
Because basically we almost killed my best friend's mom.
Moral of the story: nightshade includes eggplant and avocados. Basically anything with a dark outside (purple, dark green, black).
You're welcome!
I don't believe avocados are in the nightshade family, as they are in the Lauraceae family, and not the Solanaceae.
Delete(I'm not an expert, though - just did a little googling)
Avocados are not nightshades.
DeleteIf you want a "creamy" soup without, you know, cream, America's Test Kitchen's Cauliflower Soup is AMAZING. (And that's coming from someone who is NOT a fan of cauliflower.) Link is here: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/7491-cauliflower-soup?incode=MASAD00L0&ref=new_search_experience_1 but if you hit the subscription paywall, you can e-mail me at toni b holmes @ gmail dot com and I'll e-mail you the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI've switched my potato chips for roasted plantains they are amazing and they curb my salt tooth. I hope you give them a try.
ReplyDeleteI'm allergic to dairy (not lactose intolerant, trust me, there's a difference) and vegetable oil (so nothing deep fried). Which sucks, because mozzarella sticks are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI've also found that foods high in fat (ground beef, sausage/pepperoni, muffins, nuts, etc) mess with my stomach.
I haven't found the best solution, but I do a lot of cooking at home with substituted ingredients. For example: I use ground turkey instead of beef.
I steam or roast a lot of veggies, and use a butter substitute.
I make my own fruit roll ups, and make my own bread, since a lot of supermarket purchased bread has milk in it.
I'm a water drinker, so I really couldn't tell you about non-soda, non-caffeinated drink substitutes...
Food sensitivity sucks, but there are ways around it. :)
Hope this helps a little.
--Piper P from Washington State
I feel your pain. Many popular foods are either migraine triggers (tomatoes, alcohol) or will cause me to break out in hives (tree nuts, all melons, cinnamon). On top of all of that, I'm a picky eater.
ReplyDeleteSo, my only suggestion would be to focus on portion control. Measure or weigh out your snacks. Eat off of smaller plates. Start your meal with half or 2/3 of what you THINK you want to eat. If you finish that, wait 20 minuets before going back for seconds. Try not to eat in front of the TV, computer, or other media devices. Actually focus on what you are eating. This should help you feel more satisfied.
As for beverages....have you tried making your own decaf iced tea?
Okay, it was hecka hard because I'm not a huge carnivore, but when I did Whole 30, my digestive...troubles all stopped. I didn't gradually reintroduce food groups (oops) so I don't know which foods are causing my problems. The only reason I could do it was because it is a finite, 30 day plan, not giving up everything forever.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry but...
ReplyDeletePotatoes are in the nightshade family : (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae#Economic_importance
Uhhhh I have no clue if this fit's the eat raw veggies diet, but two healthy things I like are: mixed orange juice (mango orange specifically), and green powder you can mix into drinks. I normally put it in my hot chocolate (because taste) and it's decently healthy? In any case, GOOD LUCK JEN.
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought soda in years - making seltzer at home, and sometimes adding a splash of fruit juice is just as satisfying for me! Sodastream was a game changer.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to be a bit better lately by drinking water throughout the day (and with almost every meal), adding more vegetables into my lunches, and eliminating half the bread in my sandwiches (topping them with lettuce leaves instead). I'm an ice cream addict so sometimes I go with Halo Top or similar brands with more protein and fewer calories.
ReplyDeleteYou also might want to check out Iowa Girl Eats - she is gluten free and also deals with dairy allergy issues with her son so you might find some helpful recipes there.
Best of luck...my husband tried the low FODMAP diet for a couple of months (didn't seem to make a difference) and even that amount of time was a challenge.
I second Halo Top ice cream
DeleteOh dear, what a question. Everyone has their own favorite solution, and I actually read the comments to find some hints for myself. For a while I've been carb free, and that really helped me. It was easy for me to cut out carbs because I never was a carb lover. Then a new doctor was concerned with cholesterol, so he cut out all fats. When you don't eat carbs and you don't eat fat, there's really nothing left except chicken and green beans. It's gotten to the point where I can't even eat if I make chicken, and ssssshhhhh, don't tell, I threw away some green beans that were in the fridge for a week.
ReplyDeleteAll I can tell you is try to make up a menu ahead of time. Make it for a week, and by the time you've done it 4 times, you'll have a month's worth of menus that you can mix and match and be set for life.
Supper time and grocery planning is a HUGE problem in our house because of the many things I don't eat and my inability to leave the house to go grocery shopping. Sometimes I think it best just to get an old cookbook, one that grandma would have used, and just use it to plan meals and cook. People were healthier back then, less weight problems, less diabetes, less everything. Gotta be the diet.
As for drinking, for many years now (15-20) all I drink is black coffee and water. Sounds boring, but it's not to me. All of my beverages are totally calorie free, and none of them have chemical or un-natural ingredients, sweeteners, or flavorings.
And when all else fails, have a Whopper with cheese and an order of onion rings every now and then!
Oh, another thing. If you're looking for healthier takeout, try panera bread. They advertise their foods as being real and additive free. It's tasty and I, for one, am not afraid to eat it.
ReplyDeleteHonestly the single best thing to happen to my life after my own health issues was the referral to my nutritionist. With her guidance, I have been making small changes to help fix some of my own problems, and I have really been seeing massive improvement.
ReplyDeleteDessert-wise, a square or two of dark chocolate when you have that chocolate craving is actually really not too bad for you. I will also sometimes just do peanut-butter on toast or with apple slices. I'm vegetarian, so my easy breakfast is usually a toasted English muffin with a Morningstar Farms "sausage" patty and a slice of cheese. Takes about 5 minutes to make and better for you than an Egg McMuffin or similar. I also drink a ton of water. I keep a 32oz bottle at work and usually get through 1 and a half fill-ups during the work day. Sometimes I put some fruit in it to give it flavor, or a squeeze of one of those sugar-free 'water enhancers'.
Hi Jen! I'm a very rare commenter, but this post has inspired me to pass on a link! Warning that it is not small (I'm sorry!). It is icky and scary and magical. I'll just leave it here:
ReplyDeleteCarrot Quinn cured her IBS
I bought myself one of those vacuum-sealed insulated water bottles, it keeps water ice cold for up to 12 hours I think? Anyways, I hate drinking warm/lukewarm water, so this helps me drink more water throughout the day. That, and for some reason, using a straw!
ReplyDeleteAlso, HALO TOP ICE CREAM. It's my new go-to dessert, it's low-calorie so you don't feel bad eating an entire pint in a night. My favorite flavors are the chocolate peanut butter and the oatmeal cookie!
I agree with using a straw to drink more water, I'm not sure why, but I drink so much more with a straw.
DeleteThat roasted veggies thing is a good point - I especially like carrots this way. Slice them (I use a salad shooter to get them about an eighth of an inch thick) and then put them on a cookie sheet, drizzle a little bit of olive oil, then dust on a bit of season salt. Bake at about 350 for about 5-10 minutes depending on how done you like your carrots. They are great as a side dish or as meat main replacement for a pasta or rice dish or w/e.
ReplyDeleteFrozen sugar-free pudding cups.
ReplyDeleteopen 'em, stick a spoon in, freeze 'em.
Takes longer to eat and chocolate is a thing I need in my life.
I also love and adore diet tonic water. I drink enough of it that I actually looked into how much I'd need to drink to have quinine poisoning (it's a lot).
My favorite food-life change is making a frittata every Sunday. A dozen eggs and whatever veggies I happen to have. This week, I decided, for the very first time, to make the frittata with string beans. I sautéed a diced onion, 1 lb of beans (cut into 1in pieces) and a bell pepper (for color more than anything else, you could leave it out). Threw the veggies in a greased 9x13 pan, covered the top in some parmesean cheese (bc cheese is life) and poured over beaten eggs. Bake for 20 mins at 400F, and BAM! Breakfast (or lunch!) for two for FOUR DAYS!!! It was surprisingly tasty. Super important to add a little salt every time you add a veggie to the pan, and to add some salt to eggs when you beat them. For herbs I used some chili flakes (just a little!) and oregano. So so tasty. I was surprised. Full disclosure, I was prepared to call this experiment a failure and dump almost a full week of breakfasts, but it was super tasty!
ReplyDeleteI do this as well. I like to add a little heavy cream to it for better texture. I put the eggs, cream, and fresh raw spinach in the blender with seasonings depending on my mood that day, maybe a little squirt of ketchup, and then a block of white cheddar broken up into chunks. Puree it to smithereens, pour in pan, bake. Easy breakfast I can eat on my way to work.
DeleteI also feel like sometimes my tummy just wants to rebel for fun -- I try bland foods, I try I greasy foods, I try less meat...something always screws up. Also it's hard to isolate something and still eat a meal, amirite?? Anyway -- I used to eat these delicious Nature Valley oat cookie things sandwiched with almond butter in the middle (SO GOOD) but I think they were too sugary for me. :( Sad tummy. So instead I've been eating Pamela's whenever bars, they come in a bunch of flavors but I like the oat/blueberry/lemon. They're gluten and dairy free, and taste flavorful without seeming too sweet...but my favorite thing is that they're mysteriously soft and almost fluffy. Gluten-free has made a lot of improvement over the years, but I still think it's usually so DENSE and awful and brick-like. These are a welcome change.
ReplyDeleteI've been adding Stur to my water get myself to drink more. It's a good source of vitamin C, and no sugar or artificial sweeteners. It's sweetened with stevia. No artificial flavors or coloring either.
ReplyDeleteAlso, have you tried Sonya apples? They're pretty much the only apples I eat. :p
Well, we bought an Instant Pot on Prime Day. I have no idea what to put in it. I do low carb and my adult kid just started that 30Day thingie. I'll probably use it as a planter next year 'cause that's how these things go in my house. Also, if I never see another roasted chicken or an Aidell's sausage, I will die happy. The only thing in my low carb life that I love is strawberries.So eat strawberries. Oh, and protein style burgers from In and Out are truly amazing! Sorry, that's all I got!
ReplyDeleteI am mildly allergic to things in the nightshade family. I can eat them, but they have to be in small doses and very, very well cooked. Even then I occasionally break out in hives no matter how careful I am. Right now I am having another round of digestive trouble that might actually be stress, but.
ReplyDeleteWater kefir helped my soda cravings. It's a cultured probiotic like kombucha and yogurt, but it turns water and a bit of sugar into a fancy, low sugar soda that tastes a little like an old fashioned italian soda. Right now I have two pints of white grape in the fridge, waiting to fizz. My favorite flavor so far is pomegranate cherry, which tastes like wine soda when the kefir is finished.
Aside from that? My biggest issue is too many carbs. I work very long hours, and I don't get a chance to eat while I am away from the house often. Pasta is fast and simple when I vet home and can barely walk and have to be back at work in six hours or less, including sleep. Between my food allergies and my family's tastes, we have an extremely limited amount of food we can eat.
My biggest advice is to not overdo it on the things you can eat. Try to find a little variety, even if it is hard. Eating the same thing over and over again will eventually sour you to it, and knock another category of foods from your plate. I haven't been able to eat chicken of any kind for almost three years now because of that...I can't keep it down anymore even though it is safe for me to eat.
I've been slowly replacing cereal with greek yogurt based breakfast shakes. One of my favorites - almond milk, plain greek yogurt, dry oatmeal, cocoa powder, peanut butter and if needed agave nectar for a little sweetness.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am about to go on a major gaming binge, I clean the house, work out, drink lots and lots of ice water infused with peppermint or basil or orange, and I go on a major grocery store run. I start by making piles of cleaned celery cut into 4-5' lengths, baby carrots, cubed cheese, some sort of salty tasty summer sausage cut into rounds, washed grapes pulled off the stem, sliced red/orange bell peppers, cucumber rounds, nuts, olives, and fancy chocolates. Sometimes I make up dried fruit, dates, candied ginger, and citrus peel too. After everything is prepped, I take a bunch of the snack sized plastic containers, and I fill them with either all of one thing or a mix of things that store well together, like celery and carrots.
ReplyDeleteI'll boil up up several eggs, and pick up seasonal berries and hard fruits like pears and apples for slicing. Crackers and pretzels get parceled out into small snack bags. I'll also make up several teeny containers of peanut butter or ranch or a yoghurt dip or hummus.
Just before gaming release starts, I'll make up a tray of my healthy snacks and munch on that as I get hungry. When my tray is empty, I can either rummage through my snack boxes and build another one in 3 minutes, or I can grab a box of grapes or cheese or whatever and just eat my way through it.
Also, this may sound silly, but have you tried making chicken soup? I make it about once a week, and there are a ton of variations. I use a rotisserie chicken from the store, because I am lazy. A variation that I think? would work for your hashi is: dice and sautee onion, carrot, ginger. (garlic too if it doesn't bother you.) Add enough water to make soup for the two of you. Stir in a heaping spoonful of chicken base. (this comes in a round jar from the grocery store, it's a paste form of chicken bouillon) Taste to see if it tastes chicken-y enough for you. Dump in a can of coconut milk, chicken, fresh mushrooms, and fresh parsley and fresh cilantro. (If you can do any of them - corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, a teaspoon of red curry paste, lemon juice, lemongrass, water chestnuts)
ReplyDeleteYou can also make a killer chicken and potato soup with coconut milk.
this is also one of my most favorite recipes: http://spinachtiger.com/chicken-thighs-lemon-onions-tumeric-sweet-potatoes/
I am on my 27th day of water only. I kicked a 40 year diet soda habit. It was awful the first week, especially adapting to no caffeine, but now I'm used to it. I thought it would take longer to adapt, but it has saved me a lot of money. I had previously switched from most of the major brands of diet soda because I discovered that aspartame was causing my headaches, so I was drinking Zevia. But that's expensive (thought it is delicious and comes in many flavor varieties). So now it's just plain water. I drink it with a lot of ice, which helps. I tried doing seltzer water for the fizz, but the taste wasn't as good as plain water.
ReplyDeleteI'm also mostly a carnivore at this point, and I feel a lot better. But Jen doesn't want to go gluten free, so I won't talk about that. :)
I hate drinking water so I put crystal light in it to get my 64 oz a day I like the crystal light grape ( with caffeine) and their cherry pomegranate but I love the pineapple from Target and the passion fruit from HEB, all of which you can get online.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I enjoy making Popsicle with whole blended fruit to get more of the good stuff. If you put in sweetened condensed milk you can get ice cream texture without all the churning.
I'm in my second year of no soda after 15+ years of regular Dr. Pepper drinking. What helped me quit was the sparkling flavored waters, there are a few brands that don't add any sweetener, Polar, Dasani & the Target brand come to mind. If you make brownies, substitute half the fat with apple sauce. Cuts back on the fat and makes them extra moist and gooey. Works in most baking. You can also sub apple sauce for eggs if you happen to not have any and you HAVE TO HAVE BROWNIES!!!!!
ReplyDeletefor dessert you need chocolatecoveredkatie.com she's a vegan who makes desserts with a healthy twist. Her recipes are pretty flexible and you can adjust for the foods you aren't supposed to be eating.
ReplyDeleteFor breakfasts, I like to do the make ahead kind. I make breakfast sandwiches with sandwich slims, 1 egg, and 1 slice of turkey bacon. I do about 20+ at a time, wrap them in plastic wrap individually, and freeze. In the morning I take one, wrap it in a paper towel, nuke it for 40-ish seconds on both sides and it's good to go. I sometimes add cheese to it too. I have also made breakfast burritos. You can find lots of recipes for those on Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about all of these different types of diets so I don't know if this would be of any use to you but I have learned to love oatmeal. Plain, boring oatmeal made with oats and water. Add a touch of whatever sweetener you like or can eat, your dried fruit of choice (I like dried cherries because while grapes are awesome, raisins are not) a tablespoon of ground flax and a bit of crumbled granola for added texture. You can make a big batch, keep it in the fridge and scoop out a serving as needed. It will keep for a week that way, you may need to add more water or milk substitute of choice when reheating but it is pretty quick. If all that works with your dietary requirements it is an easy breakfast/lunch/dinner that is hot and quick and filling.
ReplyDeleteFor snacks, if you can eat it hummus with vegetables, pita, corn chips or whatever else you have on hand is awesome - I've had that itself as dinner. I tend to go for the super spicy or 'everything' ones but they come in generic too.
All the best soups do NOT have cream. Chicken noodle soup? Tortilla soup? Bean soup? HMPH. I love all soups but tend to stay away from the cream versions just for 'not adding to my waistline' reasons.
FWIW, my best friend lives in "four things I can safely eat" land for similar reasons, but she makes it work :-). I taught her how to cook, and once she learned, she took off with re-creating her foods. I know you aren't there yet, but as an encouraging thought, it can happen!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried goat's milk products? My oldest can't have cow dairy, but goat milk is much lower in lactose (and, somehow, it's easier to digest, we've been told and she finds) so it might be worth a shot. She likes goat milk yogurt and goat cheese (the traditional soft stuff, plus you can find goat cheddar and gouda and sometimes others that are really good, if expensive). Also, coconut milk ice cream and yogurt are really good if you like coconut flavor, and then you could add safe fruits or a sprinkle of cocoa powder or a safe granola (side note, granola is REALLY easy to make!) for a sweet (but not super sweet) treat after dinner.
Good luck! We've gotten really good at working around food restrictions (there are a bunch more at my house that I didn't mention here), so send up the flag if you need more help, or more specific help :-). Happy to give it a shot!
Water! I was an 80oz a day Diet Coke addict a year ago, I just quit cold turkey and I feel soooo much better. I tend to drink a lot (not alcohol) and I just carry around a huge water bottle and fill it several times during the day. I thought I'd want something with flavor, but I just need lots of ice and I'm happy!
ReplyDeleteI have added in eating more often throughout the day- like every three hours and all six of my meals are protein heavy over carb heavy.
I don't know if it counts as minor, but I've been trying to cut back on sugar to see if it'll help with my migraines. Basically, I only drink water, no soda or juice, and avoid desserts when I can (I'm human, though, so I still eat them sometimes). I started slowly, working up to one thing at a time (ie no soda, then adding no juice, etc). So far I'm not sure if the less sugar is helping (I cheat a little too often) but I'm starting to notice a pattern with chocolate which is pretty depressing...
ReplyDeleteSmoothies. Get a nice Vitamix or similarly robust blender. You can blend all kinds of yummy whole fruits and veggies and they don't hurt your stomach. When it's hot you can make lots of cold things. You do t even need ice cream, just ice. When John runs out to get that McDonalds you can make a strawberry milkshake or chocolate and banana or peanut butter. Add protein powder or fancy vitamin veggie powders or don't. Use blue agave syrup to sweeten. Add booze on the weekend and make margarita or pina collada something. Make non cream soups and hummus. But mostly just make lots of healthy cold smoothies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, have you tried the omelette rolls or egg tacos we've been discussing on Fans of EPBOT? They are fabulous.
Bitters (traditionally used in mixed drinks) come in a million flavors now, and adding them to club soda/seltzer is delicious. Also, drinking everything through a bendy silicone straw makes it more fun, and I drink more water when I keep a cup of water with a straw next to my computer.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the nibbles but aren't really hungry, Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips are satisfying even if you only eat a few, and dark chocolate is better for you than brownies. Salted almonds are also delicious. And sweet potatoes: poke some holes and microwave one on a plate for 8-12 minutes, turning once. Then slice and add butter (if you're feeling indulgent), or salt and pepper, or cinnamon. An almost effortless side for every meal, and healthy too.
Good luck with your noms!
The dark chocolate chips thing is something I do! I have a big problem with both emotional eating and chocolate cravings, but having dark chocolate chips means (a) I satisfy the monster in my head while (b) not eating a thing full of brownies.
DeleteI've been making a healthier work lunch by rinsing a can of beans (black, white, pinto, whatever) and then mashing them with some kind of dressing. I've done Greek Vinaigrette and avocado ranch so far. It has to sit overnight for the best taste, but that makes it easier anyway; mix it up on Sunday evening and leave it in the fridge all week. I've also done mayo, mustard, and relish with cannellini beans - it was just like potato salad. I use hamburger buns because they don't get so damp and mushy in the lunch bag, and because you can use a tablespoon to make a bowl in the top and then scoop the beans in, and they won't ooze so much when you bite down. I usually add baby spinach and a little cheese in assembly. This is a super cheap lunch, fast and easy, and much more nutritious than lunchmeat or burgers. I've even lost a couple pounds.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, the doctor wants more beans in our diet and I couldn't figure out more than just sitting on the side of our plates (kids still eat everything separate, but if it's on a hamburger buns, that's a win). Will be trying this for sure! Thank you for the idea!
DeleteMy favorite dessert in the world is salted popcorn and chocolate milk. The salty popcorn pairs really well the sweet/creaminess of chocolate milk. You can substitute almond milk for the cows milk if the lactose is too bothersome.
ReplyDelete- LaCroix waters (start with the citrus flavors if you're ...hesitant). I like almost all of them, but if you're drinking them *while* eating something sweet, they will taste weird. Grapefruit is my favorite, then strawberry-pineapple.
ReplyDelete- Roasting veggies, and/or mixing up what you flavor them with. Roasted carrots are awesome with chili powder or taco seasoning (so are tatertots, but they're not as healthy ;)), cauliflower is good with tandoori seasoning, etc.
- I also really like iced green teas in weird flavors, but I don't know what the decaf options would be. I've had some good iced herbal teas too though, berry flavors especially. I also bought a pretty glass bottle just for my iced tea, to encourage myself to drink more tea instead of soda.
- My favorite (paleo, whole30) breakfast is Aidells Chicken Apple Sausage, carrot sticks, and either apple slices or blackberries. I'm not saying it makes sense, I'm just saying it's good. :) I actually eat a lot of carrot sticks, just, like, all the time. Usually for breakfast.
- Lettuce-wrap sandwiches, tacos, and burgers. I've even made my favorite hot sub (it's call the Big Don Italian, but I don't think you have Donato's in FL) by putting all the meat/veggies on foil and broiling them, then transferring that to the lettuce to pick it up and eat it. Messy, but yum.
My hubby has IBS, but really won't curb what he eats! This week, we have had good luck with him taking a couple of fiber capsules (like Metamucil) and a probiotic capsule before bed (with a large glass of water). Then yogurt (lactose free?) and oat cereal in the morning. The goal is to reinforce the gut flora and keep it fed with soluble fiber. I'm pretty sure he'll still react to his significant triggers (like chilies), but it seems to be mitigating his reactions to the somewhat trigger foods.
ReplyDeleteAcacia Senegal fibers are supposed to be great for helping IBS too, I think the brand I heard about was "Heather's Tummy Fibers" or so. I haven't gotten any of it yet. Metamucil is really great, though after the second batch I bought I switched to just plain psyllium seed husks instead of the Metamucil brand powdered & flavoured version of that because that seemed good enough for my needs.
DeleteHi Jen! I can relate to having multiple chronic conditions. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hypertension, and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). The fun thing is that for hypertension, a low-salt diet is recommended, but that aggravates POTS, for which a high-salt diet is recommended (I know. I was shocked too.) The big thing that helped me recently was joining with a workout/eating plan program that includes online support via "challenge groups." You and the other challengers check in every day on an app and/or Facebook, and you just share your workouts, your food if you are doing one of the eating plans, etc. Everyone supports each other and people post motivational quotes, etc. You end up with this online group of friends! That was what kept me motivated- the online groups. Being supported and cheering each other on is so much fun! There are many programs that have a similar setup, so you can find one that speaks to you. It helped me a lot to have the online support so I could do workouts at home, and am just an introvert and I find making workout friends difficult to do in a class setting. But the online support is perfect! I've had to take a break due to a flare of CFS, but I'm hoping to start back soon.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, for just about anything, there are FB groups for support! So if you just want to quit sugar, or eat more veggies, if you can get into a specific online group I imagine that would help a lot. So them's my thoughts. Good luck and keep us posted!
Go vegetarian. When I ate meat I barely touched vegetables and lived on meat, bread, and fruit. Now I happily fill up on things like veggie gumbo, coconut milk curry, tofu tacos and veggie lasagna (pasta is not the devil nor are carbs). There's never been a better time to go veg with so many resources and plant-based options available. Plus it's one of the best things you can do to lower your carbon footprint. And I know you love animals! Ease into it Roth Meatless Mondays and go from there. If there is one cookbook I recommend it's "Isa Does It." She also has a ton of free recipes up on her site to give you a feel for her cooking. http://www.isachandra.com/recipes/
ReplyDeleteOatmeal is awesome, even if it feels old lady. Also, sweet potatoes tend to curb my sweet tooth a little bit. I think it's the satisfying texture and touch of sweet.
ReplyDeleteAll of my little things I've done, are on your "don't" list. Switched chick peas/garbanzo beans out for meats or snacking. They're delicious roasted with some fat and salt. Or using black beans in place of burger in a variety of recipes. Having oatmeal for breakfast with some peanut butter and raisins, instead of peanut butter/sugar toast. I haven't tried avocado toast yet, but it sounds delicious. I do have to stay away from raw cabbage-y things (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), but can eat sauerkraut without issues. Good luck finding some small changes you can follow through on.
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy the Envy apples from NZ, try the Koru apples from NZ. They are even better than the Envy. Juicy, crisp, delightful.
ReplyDeleteI am like John, I hate water. I will drink water with lemon (or pretty much any fruit), but using a water infuser thing was too much work (WHAT?). So, I compromise by drinking flavored Perrier or other type of mineral water. Alternatively, I drink a lot of tea. I looove tea; hot, iced, or spiked with vodka. Mmmm. (I second the drinking from a straw thing, but my MIL says straws give you wrinkles, so proceed at your own risk).
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I like to do is, when I find a crockpot recipe I like, I pre-bag it and put it in the freezer so all I have to do is dump it in before I leave for work. Google freezer crockpot recipes and find something that has ingredients you can eat or can be adjusted to fit your diet. I also like this because I don't have to plan dinner after I've worked all day and I'm hungry. At that point, it's whatever is on hand, which may or may not be twinkies and pretzel rods. It's okay, my kids are grown. I'm sure I've never done that when they were little...
-Just Andrea
I eat tomato or minestrone soup for lunch. Yum veggies, but tomatoes are nightshades if you are avoiding them.
ReplyDeleteI eat a piece of fruit with my peanut butter sugar loaded cereal in the morning. Start the day out right. :)
I also started eating Kind bars for snacks, mostly nuts and some chocolate, not a lot of other stuff. Nuts are healthy, right?
I went diabetic II recently so I've had to modify my life too. Currently my favorite thing is curried chicken salad. So so good, not spicy just super flavorful and simple. I make it with canned chicken from Costco (sounds bad but is really tasty) or with a roasted chicken from the grocery store. I like to do half plain Greek yogurt and half mayo and I've put grapes in it or raisins and celery. You can put anything in it or just leave I think plain. This is the recipe I follow: http://www.panningtheglobe.com/2013/10/15/curried-chicken-salad/
ReplyDeleteFun history behind the first time curried chicken salad was made: it was for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in the 50s.
Try tasty-yummies.com
ReplyDeleteThis food blog features gluten-free, seasonal recipes that are clean and simple to make, sound right up your alley! Many are dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian. I think I came across this blog in Pintrest ages ago as I have some family members that have celiac disease
My husband and I use 'pure traditions hot instant cereal' on days where we bith do not want to make breakfast. You can buy it on Amazon. I add some sweetener (fiber syrup) and maple or caramel extract. It is very filling and you can make it sweet or savory by adding stuff to it. If you cant have nuts or coconut it definitely isnt for you.
ReplyDeleteFYI, potatoes are a nightshade. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried Pho? It is basically a super-flavorful beef bone broth - it's got all kinds of roasted aromatics like onion and ginger, and then all kinds of delicious spices. Then you've got noodles - which are predominately rice noodles (low-gluten, but not gluten-free apparently,) but it's possible you could get bean thread I suppose. Then there's some kind of meat, usually beef, usually in very thin slices.
ReplyDeleteTHEN there's this fabulous salad of basil, culantro (which is like a cross between cilantro and lettuce) and bean sprouts, with hot peppers and limes for flavor (all of which you add according to taste, it comes on the side.) Might give you something that doesn't make you feel awful that's *fancy.*
I have Fibromyalgia which comes with a side of IBS...what works for me are a specific type of antidepressant (SNRI) I'm not sure how that would coordinate with Hashi's, but they work like GANGBUSTERS on my anxiety as a bonus.
Japanese food should work for you...there's a little gluten in teriyaki and things like that, but it's all pretty rice-based.. The soups might work for you, too: Soba noodles are mostly if not all buckwheat (GF) and miso soup should be GF and not have other stuff in it that's tough to eat...and it's kind of salty/creamy. Egg-drop soup should work for you. Edamame are prepared as a bar snack, boiled in salted water, and are delicious. http://fodmapmonash.blogspot.com/2015/09/dining-out-asian.html
I tried FODMAPS for a couple of months, but I wasn't getting any benefit and all my food was SO bland. (although apples set off my stomach like nothing else so they are a rare treat!) I'm dairy free and semi gluten free (I eat pasta at times but no bread) and I have to limit/ avoid mushrooms, peppers and corn.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think of a simple change for you but it's hard when you have to restrict SO MANY THINGS. I've just started using one of those "we send you all the food and the recipe" services, and I'm really enjoying it, but it just depends what's good for you. Don't give up though, and keep trying new things.
I'm a big fan of Asian cuisine, like coconut based curries, and big bowls of ramen or things with rice and spice.
I hope some of this ramble was helpful!
So instead of offering quick advice I want to talk about J Curves. What is a J curve? It's a curve on a graph that looks like a J. It's a fancy way to say "When you make a change things always get worse before they get better".
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to stick to any change. Good luck. Ride out that J curve the best you can.
okay, okay, "health" hint. Farmers Market. My local farmers market is expensive, but I've ate so much healthier since I started going and picking out strange things. However, I'm adventurous in cooking.
Oh my goodness -- we have the same conversation in our house on a regular basis! ;) I went back on a pretty strict diet for my fibro a few weeks ago. It's primarily protein and non-starchy veggies (no potatoes anymore, darn it!) with some healthy fats. I also have lactose issues, but can do cheese and heavy cream without problems. I've been finding that buying single-serve packages of nuts, veggies already cut, up or rotisserie chicken from the store has helped, even though I don't always like the extra packaging.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite desserts is to take some frozen strawberries or blueberries (1/2 cup or so) and add 1/3 cup of cream or unsweetened almond milk and some sweetener. I let it sit for about 10 minutes and it becomes a sort of slushy-icecream as the berries become a little less frozen and the liquid becomes a little more frozen.
Good luck! The food thing is a pain in the butt!
-Zippy
Oh, I almost forgot! I love my Vegetti spiralizer. Besides the veggie noodles for pasta-swapping, it's fun to use on weird things like cucumbers or cantaloupe. I add a little lime or lemon juice, salt and a pinch of chili to my cucumber or cantaloupe spirals.
ReplyDelete-Zippy
I bought a Thermomix and make pretty much all my food from scratch. I haven't bought a takeaway in three years and now maybe eat out twice a year. I'm lucky I have no allergies or intolerances; I was just a fussy eater, but now I know what goes into my food, I'm willing to try so many more things that I used to just screw my nose up at. For example, to recreate your nightly meal, I'd make these burgers: http://www.fatsexythermo.com/lchf-cauli-bigmacburger/ and these brownies: https://www.recipecommunity.com.au/desserts-sweets-recipes/gluten-free-and-nut-free-miracle-chocolate-brownies-with-sweet-potato-and-kale/ccxzj4t9-2d8fe-127386-cfcd2-g9x940d2
ReplyDeleteIn the interests of full disclosure, I signed up to sell the Thermomix (THAT'S how life changing it was for me!) to get my introvert self out to meet and practising talking to people, but I'm in Australia so in this instance I feel free to recommend away :)
P.S. You might find this cooking blog helpful: https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/ Good luck!
My go-to snack is Belvita cookies, cinnamon brown sugar flavor. Sam's Club sells a huge box of them. (Sounded to me like you wanted ready-made ideas.)
ReplyDeleteI've had stomach issues for ages, partly stemming from ulcers caused by too many anti-inflammatory meds starting in HS for bad knees, but those were healed at least a decade ago. This winter I started a high protein/ low glycemic eating plan and it has made a HUGE difference. I also have lots of food anxiety so I was super slow easing into the new eating plan and have ended up sometimes having the same things over and over, but I feel so much better. I found that erythritol is a good sugar substitute for me in baking, and I've started mixing monk fruit extract into it as well, which practically eliminates any off flavors/sensations. I also use a low glycemic sweetener made from apples in my tea or yogurt. Oh, I do eat quite a bit of yogurt and string cheese, which I always thought made my tummy unhappy but have had no issues with either. I also make a lot of egg dishes, mainly a scramble with chopped up greens and cheddar cheese (do that one as a baked dish and freeze it to have for weeks) There's also a mug muffin recipe that uses a high protein "flour" blend that has saved my sweet tooth. Makes up in less than 5 minutes and you can sub any liquid or mix-ins, so sometimes I make it more like a brownie, sometimes a blueberry muffin, sometimes choc chip. I've found that having just a few easy things to get me over the hump of wanting to eat really badly makes it work for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with eating roast chicken, potatoes and green beans most nights. Just make friends with it, and decide that you're only going to do otherwise a few nights a week. Maybe choose a night or two to be "add a brownie" night. One night that is McDonalds burger night. Take the ambiguity and anguish out of it and just make it your thing. No guesswork, no fuss.
ReplyDeleteI have a terrible sweet tooth but if you make your own sugar-free jelly it's a sweet treat with less calories than most of the other sweet treats :)You can add fruit to it too if you want to healthy-fy it :p My favourite when I was little was when my mum put satsuma pieces in the bottom of a little ramekin thing, put in the sugar free jelly and left to set. Best thing ever :)
ReplyDeleteStar Wars tiki glasses. It's more fun to drink water when you enjoy the glass that you're drinking from. :)
ReplyDeleteI just realised - I was the jelly comment a few minites ago, but I'm a Brit so I completely forgot that 'jelly' in the US means what I would call 'jam'.
ReplyDeleteSo just to clarify, when I say try making your own jelly I mean the stuff that wobbles, not the stuff you put on your toast :) Here endeth the Limey translation lesson! :p
Jell-O (yummy in the lime version!) :)
DeleteLong fermented breads. I make bread with a sourdough culture and have found a huge improvement to my GI health. I've even given loaves to friend who have problems digesting wheat or gluten, even those who have really serious reactions, and every one has been able to eat fermented sourdough with no problem. And you can make sourdough buns, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, pasta, and everything else. It's delicious, and way better for you. Because of the fermentation process, the microorganisms digest most of the sugars that cause our bodies to treat carbs like a sugar. So our bodies don't treat sourdough like sugar, and doesn't cause the gastrointestinal distress like white bread does.
ReplyDeleteSourdough has a lower glycemic value, so it is better than white bread for diabetics too.
DeleteWhen I realize I've stopped drinking water, I'll add a splash of lime juice to it. The added bonus is the cat doesn't think it's his water, and won't try to drink out of my glass.
ReplyDeleteBest little change I can think of. Not having to wonder if the glass you abandoned a half-hour ago now has cat-germs in it.
How do you feel about edamame? I've become obsessed with some sold at Costco, in the freezer section -- it's a 12-pack of single-serve bags (as in, one bag could be a whole meal for one person or a generous side for two). You just pop the bag in the microwave for three minutes and you get perfectly steamed edamame! Cut the bag open, dump on a plate, salt to taste, and grab a bowl for the "skins." So yummy, so easy, so filled with protein and health!
ReplyDeleteMy aunt has a lot of stomach issues, to the point where she's had multiple surgeries for it. I was kind of surprised when she told me about one of the meals she makes frequently, which apparently doesn't bother her. She cooks white rice and chicken tenders in coconut milk, with lime juice and ginger. I think she even adds some kind of heat to it - cayenne maybe? I tried some and it was really tasty. Although I see that citrus is on your list so maybe it wouldn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteI also have a pasta-alternative suggestion. My husband is diabetic and needs to avoid carbs as much as possible, so we've started buying shirataki noodles. I've found them in the produce section, with the tofu, and they come in bags of liquid that you drain off before using them. Very low carb, pretty high in protein, the texture isn't quite like spaghetti but it's pretty close. I honestly don't know what they're made of, so you might have to research further to see if they'd cause issues.
Try freezing grapes -- they're sweet enough to feel like a treat, and you can snack on them for a long time while watching TV or something without actually eating a ton. I also buy grapes at Costco, and pluck and wash the whole container at once, putting the washed, dried grapes in a bowl in the fridge. Any time you feel snacky or are fridge-roaming for a snack, you can just grab a handful of yummy grapes! I also do this with bags of clementines -- peel and segment the whole bag, put all the segments in a bowl in the fridge, and munch at your leisure! The grapes will last a week or more, depending on variety, freshness when purchased, your proficiency with plucking (twisting the stem where it meets the grape rather than grabbing several at a time and jerking means less skin loss and therefore less (or no) exposed skin on the grape, which is the part which starts to go first), and trying to dry the grapes before "bowl-ing" them (I wash half the container of grapes at a time, after they've been plucked, and then pour them from a colander onto a dish towel; pick up the corners of the dish towel and the grapes are contained enough and rub them, and then you can use the towel to pour them into your bowl. And putting one or two papertowels in the bottom of your bowl before adding grapes helps control moisture too). Clementines go fast if they're juicy when you peel them -- if you can keep the segments dry, they can last several days or more. I actually really like to peel and segment and then leave them laid out for a little to "dry" -- the skin of each segments crisps up a bit, which is a delightful contrast with the juiciness when you pop them in your mouth. I know that was a lot of detail about simple fruit, lol! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I love frozen grapes. Especially the black grapes - they're so sweet.
DeleteCutting down on fried foods, eliminating milk, watching how much sugar I eat, eating very little lettuce and taking daily doses of probiotics & fiber chewables has made mt IBS so much more manageable.
ReplyDeleteI have similar issues ( hashi's, fibromyalgia, IBS, etc.,etc.) And here are a few things that have helped me.
ReplyDelete1. Imodium is my friend. If I'm going to eat something questionable ( like Thanksgiving dinner) I take one before I eat. Makes a world of difference. Also when you start getting those fun symptoms, nothing knocks it out faster.
2. Beware of sugar substitutes and soy. I ate Double Chocolate Zone bars for years (love 'em) and I never knew they were making my symptoms worse until I ran out and couldn't get any for two weeks.
3. Whatever you eat, don't apologize. I eat muffins a lot because many times that's all I can tolerate. What gets you through is what's good for you, and that's okay. I keep the foods I know I can eat around so I always have something at hand.
Good luck!
What worked for me when I was trying to lose weight after baby was following the serving sizes on food packaging and using small side plates for eating dinner. Simple, easy and I lost 35 pounds that way!
ReplyDeleteCrock pot chicken. Whole chicken, rubbed with spices and herbs. (Best if you can plan ahead and let sit in fridge uncovered overnight.) Plop in crock pot on top of a few hearty veggies (carrots are good). Cover, cook on low until done. Usually around 4 hours. Chia pudding (really, I can't stand chia seeds but love this). 4 dates, chopped, 1/2 cup black chia seeds. 4 cups milk of choice (coconut milk is good), cinnamon to taste. Plase in mason jar, shake really well, let sit in fridge overnight. Serve with fruit, nuts, toasted coconut, whatever. The dates make it sweet but feel free to add a little sweetener. I'm in a similar situation and am actually going to talk to a nutririonist to get some help, because pretty lost.
ReplyDeleteAnd correction, it's 2 cups of milk, not 4.
DeleteI substitute quinoa for pasta/grains in soup. I'm not allergic to anything so I don't need to cut carbs or wheat, but soggy noodles bother me, quinoa doesn't absorb as much water over time and so my soup stays nice and crisp.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies on the nightshade and lactose intolerances. Until you have to start looking for them, you don't realize that they and their derivatives are in Almost. Everything. Still trying to find a good non-dairy milk, but making my own may be the best way to go- have you tried that yet?
ReplyDeleteyou probably can't eat this but -- we eat air popped popcorn almost every night. we use imitation- butter spray & curry powder or Za'atar instead of salt. I suspect your best plan is to find out verrrry slowly what you can get away with. My sister has digestive issues, & can't eat legumes (including peanut butter - a former staple) but she CAN eat chickpeas in moderation. She'd like to be vegetarian, but has found she feels better with a little meat. It has taken her years to figure this out. only YOU can listen to YOUR body. Remember you are unique (massively unique in your case!)
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in college, my roommate planted zucchini outside our house, then went on vacation for two months, and the rest of us ignored them because we don't do outdoors. We ended up with several toddler-sized zucchini which suddenly needed to be et, so we grated it and put zucchini in e v e r y t h i n g. Zucchini casserole, zucchini pancakes, zucchini cookies, zucchini brownies...turns out zucchini is pretty much tasteless and disappears into other things. It's the camo-lizard of foods. So if you want to feel "better" about eating those brownies, just add in some zucchini. :D Unless zucchini is one of your trigger foods. Then you're on your own, because I'm as good at eating healthy as Palpatine is at parenting.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I just spit my water out reading that last sentence! Love it, and one of the funniest things I've read all day!!
DeleteDessert: some kind of berry (I usually do strawberry or blueberries but raspberry is really good) and a square of dark chocolate. Like the really dark kind, around 70%. The one square is usually enough to curb the sugar crave and dark chocolate is said to be good for your heart in small quantities. You can also get them with some flavors like salted Carmel or pepper.
ReplyDeleteThat conversation at the start of your post is sooo my husband and me. Glad to see others have the same conversations.
I've been keeping a big bag of kale in my fridge to fry up with lunch, and because it takes forever to go slimey, I keep staring at it every time I open said fridge, and it reminds me to eat greens... But that's the best I've got!
ReplyDeleteBaked goods made with almond flour. Brownies and chocolate chip cookies are especially good this way (swap the butter for coconut oil and they are even dairy free).
ReplyDelete"Riced" cauliflower with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar and herbs and spices. Basically, pulverize cauliflower in a food processor until it looks like rice, then treat it as such. Also, I'm all about the roasted veggies and grilled pizzas.
ReplyDeleteI gave up all products corn. No fresh on cob or from can or cornbread or anything that has corn flour/meal etcetera in the top two thirds of the ingredients list.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who has had serious health problems for all of my life. She jokes that they invent new diseases just to keep up with her. For the past decade has only eaten roasted chicken, white rice and broccoli for three meals a day 4-5 days a week and a list of maybe twenty items she can have once or maybe twice a month and spices.
bone broth
ReplyDeletetraditional food prep in general
very low carbs, basically ketogenic
Have you ever tried Pacific Rose apples? We can get them occasionally at Jewel in Chicago. If you see them, try them. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteEasiest quick fix for me has been Meal Squares for lunch. It's a meal substitute, but made from whole food ingredients (organic non-GMO when possible) with no preservatives. 20 grams of protein, a 'nutrition facts' that's put way more thought into vitamin proportions than I ever have, and only 12g of sugar.
ReplyDeleteIt's about $5 a bar, which beats the fast food habit. And I just have a box of them at work, which beats the too-early-AM dilemma of 'what am I going to fix for lunch today'.
It's glorious. I never have to think about what I'm going to eat for lunch, and I kinda feel like I'm doing it in a semi healthy fashion.
I am not a good person to ask. Whatever my undiagnosed health problem is has me so exhausted that I usually can't be bothered to go get fast food. On a good day, I throw a couple of natural-ish chicken strips into the toaster oven. Yay... Protein. I actually can't eat apples because I am allergic to raw apples. They make my mouth and throat itch, and that is no good.
ReplyDeleteI like water (sparkling and still), but when I want something different, I will mix fruit punch or lime-aid with plain sparkling water.
Growing my own veggies helps, especially the snackable stuff. I can just grab a handful of peas and cherry tomatoes off the plants on my way in the house after work. Tides me over till dinner. This is especially important on days I don't know yet what I want for dinner. I make crappy decisions on an empty stomach but with a few tomatoes rattling around I can make a proper dinner.
ReplyDeleteFor breakfast I have a hard boiled egg (we have chickens so this is easy) and a fruit. Sometimes I add a small amount of a grain if i won't have time for a snack before lunch, like a few crackers. The balance of protein and fruit sugar balances me all morning.
I do like to prepare my weeks lunches on the weekend. Then I can decide ahead of time to make good nutritional choices. I can also pick a meal that'll be protein heavy, carb heavy, or whatever based on what my work schedule looks like that week and what will best support my body for those activities. Or what time of the month it is, if I know I'll be craving something.
To get around the dessert bingeing, I just have a small amount of chocolate every day and then I don't ever crave a large amount. For example I often have 2 Dove pieces after lunch and 2 or 3 Kisses after dinner. I also find eating straight chocolate is better than going for brownies or cookies, which come with additional fats and sugars.
The main thing I do for my health is being vegetarian. I also make sure to eat at least a few bites of fruit at the end of every meal to balance my blood sugar.
One note about the gluten free thing: I have Hashimotos as does one aunt and one cousin. My cousin tries to treat his with GF diet and his numbers just keep getting worse, to the point they've said they're probably going to have to remove his thyroid. My aunt and I just follow a normal healthy diet and take a minimal levothyroxine dose and both our numbers are great. I work in public health by the way and I looked a lot into the GF thing when I was first diagnosed. I have never found any credible studies that back up any link between Hashi and any diet. I asked my cousin to show me his proof and the links he follows are from a doctor who makes money off gluten alternatives etc. And my doctor told me the GF and Hashi connection was unsupported and she did not recommend that diet given the lack of evidence. My cousins doctor keeps telling him to stop thinking it's working too (his thyroid is now so bad she called it "Swiss cheese") but he won't. So I wouldn't feel too guilty for eating gluten for that reason. :) If you are told to do GF for other diseases I don't have advice on that.
Hope this helps. Not making decisions on food while I'm hungry and planning lunches ahead are definitely where it's at for me. I always gain a couple pounds when I go a couple weeks without pre making lunches.
I will add banana "ice cream". It's just bananas but when you process then right (Google it, it's super easy) it turns out EXACTLY like ice cream that tastes like bananas). Add some PB and chocolate sauce and you're good to go. I really thought this was a health food scam (you know what I mean, "tastes just like a brownie" "no you don't!") but it's for real.
ReplyDeleteI had the tastiest infused water the other day. It had ginger, cucumber, rosemary, and lemon. I could drink that all day, now I just need to make some. Also I'm supposed to be eating less acidic foods because of GERD and a hiatal hernia, but I just take my Prilosec religiously because I will never give up tomato based sauces or pasta.
ReplyDeleteI realised I'm not lactose intolerant or gluten intolerant when I gave up eating packaged/processed stuff- it's all the OTHER crap added to factory-made things! So I make meals from scratch (few bottled sauces either - look at the ingredient list). Bread from a small bakery that doesn't use anything but flour, yeast, and water. Breakfasts: eggs with toast or baked oatmeal (made at the weekend and portions frozen, with apples and cinnamon!) or homemade smoothies, so I control what goes in. Oh, also - I plan meals a week ahead and do 1 big grocery shop, which takes out a huge amount of stress trying to figure out what to eat, especially for dinner!
ReplyDeleteNone thing helpful or healthy - just wanted to share a comic strip I read once that your little opening dialog reminded me of.
ReplyDeleteWife: What do you want for supper?
Husband: I don't care.
Wife: Okay. we'll have creamed asparagus tips on raisin toast.
Husband: [icky face]
Wife: Now that we've established you DO care; what do you want for supper?
Ayyyy, fellow nightshades allergy sufferer! Have you tried cauliflower rice? It's very tasty and not carbs (I think.)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, exercising 30 minutes a day in 2 bursts of 15-minutes or all at once, in the form of walking, dancing, ellipticalling, weight lifting, or yoga, has helped a lot. My IBS and GERD symptoms disappeared.
ReplyDeleteWe joined a community share agriculture program a number of years back, so each summer I pick up a variety of vegetables straight from the farmer. Gave us the chance to eat more local foods, as well as to make more food at home. Turns out it's a bit easier to think, "what can I make with this" rather than "what do I want, now I have to go to store to buy it".
ReplyDeleteWe also just got an Instant Pot, but haven't had a chance to try that yet.
The grocery stores near me sell whole, roasted organic chickens. They are already cooked and warm for you so they are easy to grab and use for dinner. That's probably cheaper and a little healthier than Boston market. Then you can roast your own vegetables for sides.
ReplyDeleteI mostly eat vegan (I know, that's a BIG change!), so I have a ton of recipes that don't use dairy (and also don't use funky ingredients you'd find in a chem lab). It might be useful if you're looking for non-dairy recipes for baking to search for vegan versions. It doesn't always work to just swap out ingredients with baking. This (http://www.thebakingfairy.net/2014/09/vegan-chocolate-bundt-cake/) is my new favorite chocolate cake recipe and it's so moist and amazing!
ReplyDeleteAs far as an easy thing to swap out, I drink herb tea all day instead of water. My office is freezing, so it helps keep me warm (or I just drink it iced). I find plain water very boring and I don't like carbonated drinks. There are thousands of kinds of herb tea (no caffeine, so I don't have to worry about drinking it all day) so I don't get tired of the same thing. I've stayed so much better hydrated since I stopped trying to drink water and started drinking tea.
We've been making these, and while they're not as good as real brownies, they are sweet and chocolate-y, and excellent when heated and served with a scoop of ice cream/iced cream-ish dessert, though that kind of defeats the purpose...
ReplyDeleteWe substitute kiwis for the plums (just toss 'em in a food processor so it's more puree than diced) and use whatever no-sugar-added jelly/jam we have on hand (but not one that has tons of artificial sweeteners, because those taste like crap. Just no extra granulated sugar added. We live near an Amish community, and they make some good jams). https://giliute.com/portfolio/softcrumby-triple-chocolate-and-plum-protein-cake-bars/
I discovered a while back that I really like overnight oats! They are super easy to make ahead of time too, just 1/2 cup of rolled oats, 1/2 cup of milk (almond milk works great), and then you add whatever sweetener and flavorings you like! For me it's usually a tablespoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon (approximately) of cinnamon, and a hand full of dried cranberries. Be warned however: a lot over overnight oat recipes call for chia seeds - I tried them in the oats once and found them quite disgusting
ReplyDeleteThe greatest healthy brownies ever: Black Bean Brownies
ReplyDeleteI bake cakes for a living and these are seriously so delicious and not weird and don't leave you wanting 'real dessert' afterwards. Not sure if they cover your dietary needs but if they do yay!
Maybe meal prep? It feels like a lot of work at the beginning, but if you have a stack of prepped meals, you can satisfy your inner lazy person, by just reaching in the fridge or freezer and nuking a meal.
ReplyDeleteBest fuzzy warm wishes on the diet issues. I had to go gluten free due to Celiac and changing what you eat is never fun, but it really does make a big difference.
Before eating or drinking anything in the morning drink a 24 oz glass of ice water. Then, before meals, drink a big glass of water. Don't drink with meals (food moves through your stomach too fast if you add a bunch of liquid with food. Almonds and dried cherries are my favorite snack. Get some protein and the cherries fool me into thinking it's like dessert.
ReplyDeleteRecently switched my snacktime yogurt with unsweetened yogurt and lots of fruit (bananas and blueberries, mostly), and that feels better. I also started carrying around a container of mixed nuts and dried fruit so I would always have a healthy snack, and that helped a ton- no more hunger meltdowns. Then I got braces and can't have nuts anymore, and I'm struggling to find something to replace my emergency snack with...
ReplyDeleteAs someone with weird allergies and pickiness I know how hard it can be to find good foods to eat. For fruits I can only have citrus and grapes, no berries, no apples,no peaches, no cherries, etc. I can eat coconut and peanuts, but no other nuts. I don't eat four legged things, so other then the occasional salmon I eat chicken or ground turkey. I hate beans, except for garbanzo so it is pretty hard to get protein other then the chicken and turkey, Fortunately for me, I do like to cook. You can get those rotisserie chickens at Costco and use those to make soups with coconut milk, chicken pesto sandwiches, chicken salads, taco salads, wraps, etc.
ReplyDeleteFor breakfast I like to make refrigerator oats. I have to use the Fairlife non lactose milk rather then the almond milk the recipes call for, but they are delicious.
Have you tried Fairlife milk? It is ultra filtered but has no lactose. It is also just milk, non of the crap they add to other lactose free milks.
Also, a lot of low calorie desserts like the fudge bars listed by others have sucralose in them which makes my stomach hurt like crazy and also tastes awful to me.
also anything with xylitol, like the meal squares above, can cause stomach issues, xylitol is the ingredient in sugar free gum that was gives some people, like people with ibs, stomach cramps. It is also harmful for pets.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to sound a litte weird but why don't you try blw (as in baby lead weaning) receipes. Most of them are actually pretty easy to cook quite a lot are even gluten and sugar free and taste perfectly fine. If they are ok as a first food for babies, the should be rather healthy, right?
ReplyDeleteDid you know you can make muffins that are to die for from banana, applesauce, rice flakes, coconut oil and cinnamon? My new favorite and I'd never thought I'd be baking vegan cakes.
Chris
Oh, and If you wanted an alternative drin I would like to suggest 1 part 100% apple juice (made from real apples) diluted with 1 partcarbonated (is that right?) water. It's isotonic, sweet and a lot healthier than any sodas you could buy.
ReplyDeleteThe smallest but most life changing thing for me was Skyr yogurt. I love yogurt but had never tried this Scandanavian one, the wife brought it home because it is higher in protein and fat and she thought it would help stop me getting hungry at 10:30 am. There was a big benefit though that we hadn't expected, it has practically cured my IBS. Since I started having a little every day I haven't had a single flare up, even when I eat trigger foods.
ReplyDeleteIt might all be in my head but I feel great so I don't care.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/brands/arla-skyr
I feel your pain, Jen. And I'm very excited to see so many comments. Maybe there is something I can try.
ReplyDeleteI have gone 99% gluten free. I don't feel any better, but now I get really sick when I eat gluten. Fun. I've been told to stay away from wheat, dairy, and nightshades. Having been raised on pasta, bread, and tomatoe sauce, it feels like I can't eat anything.
You are lucky it is just you and John. I have five kids, all who won't or can't eat different things. About the only things they can all agree to eat are things I can't (like ravioli or chicken nuggets).
Keep trying things. Don't give up! Someday, like with your meds, you will hit on a combo of things that will work. I'm still looking.
Two things though: if you like Chinese food, try Tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Soy sauce has wheat, the other two don't.
Also, I have a friend who was diagnosed with IBS, and was eventually reduced to eating mostly just bread. Eventually she moved, and got a new doctor. She was diagnosed with gluten intolerance and leaky gut. She was put on a strict low carb diet with supplements. After a few months, she was able to start introducing more foods to her diet and felt WAY better. It can be done. Hang in there!
I've given up soda entirely. Type2 diabetes and a sensitivity TO ALL of the calorie free sweeteners. (Just because my doc tells me my headaches are psychosomatic doesn't mean they don't hurt!)
ReplyDeleteInstead, whenever I can't live without cold & fizzy, I mix a glass of iced club soda with an ounce or so of 100% fruit juice. Tastes pretty good, I get to pick my flavor, and very few calories.
I gave up sugar and felt AWESOME. But, simpler than that...banana pancakes. 2 eggs, one mashed banana, on the griddle with butter or ghee like a regular silver dollar sized pancake. Best healthy breakfast hack ever. It tastes like a real pancake!!
ReplyDeleteMilk that is not cow's milk might work for you as well. Try goat or sheep's milk. I find that I can tolerate that better than cows milk, but I still have to limit my portions. Some folks find lactaid works for them, but it doesn't work well for me, as the sugars in milk aren't my issue. I really miss cows milk.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. No gluten, no dairy (casein), and no soy (which is in EVERYTHING) for me. I would suggest some good restaurants, but I am in Seattle and I doubt John wants to make that drive for takeout. For chocolatey snacks I found these Larabar Bites which are super yummy and relatively healthy-ish. I also do a lot of smoothies to satisfy my sweet cravings, my nutribullet is a godsend. I just keep greens, nuts & seeds, and frozen fruit around, and throw in whatever I am craving (including peanut butter and chocolate... mmmm). I also suggest picking up a paleo cookbook with basic recipes or slow-cooker stuff. I make a bunch of these then add a little of my chosen carb on the side. I tend to get in a rut with eating the same stuff all the time, but I like to try out a new recipe every couple weeks. It makes it fun and takes the pressure off trying something new (does that make sense?). Also, for a soy sauce substitute, have you tried coconut aminos (no wheat or soy...YAY)? I have used it a few times, and it works great :) Good Luck, and if you are ever in the Seattle area I can make you a safe dinner!
ReplyDeleteOn the line of another commenter's black bean brownies...roasted beet brownies. Even if you don't like beets, they disappear with the chocolate and just give a subtle earthy flavor. And if you add enough of them your brownies turn magenta. :)
ReplyDeleteI heard that unpasteurized whole full-fat milk, that you can usually get at specialty stores or farmer's markets, are okay when you are lactose intolerant? My ex was lactose and he said it's the only kind of dairy he can drink without taking a Lactaid.
ReplyDeletehttp://freecoconutrecipes.com/chocolate-banana-coconut-flour-muffins/
ReplyDeleteI make these in mini muffin tins, I add 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds and shredded coconut to the batter and just put the enjoy life mini chocolate chips in the batter as well. I just use a potato masher to mix it all up. They freeze really well and they are my dessert almost every night with a hearty smear of peanut butter or sunflower see butter as icing.
La Croix. Seriously I know it's all hipster and easy to make fun of, but it's fizzy, fruity, sugar and substitute free and doesn't trigger my migraines. My fave flavors are coconut, lime, and the strawberry/limon in the cute skinny cans.
ReplyDeleteI'm a kombucha addict. Make my own but my store bought go-to is Synergy Trilogy. Full of probiotics and yummy. However, it's definitely an acquired taste...start with 1/2 bottle and don't, for the love of everything holy, shake it. It's fermented.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried axing corn and yeast? I have gerds and ibs and corn is the bane of my existence! Heartbreakingly I love corn, used to snack on it as a kid but man, it gives me some nasty awful ibs. Corn is in practically everything so it is a harder adjustment though.
ReplyDeleteCorn is generally bad for any ibser and yeast too because it's a gas creating bacteria. They are the worst out of everything for me at least. As long as I stay corn and yeast (baking and brewers) free, almost everything else is bearable.
(Note: Lentils are the work of evil. Bad bad lentils!)
I love apples and sunbutter. My favorite snack ever!
ReplyDeleteFirst, totally not telling you to go gluten free b/c that's not for everyone. Second, I just wanted to share the reason I'm GF in case it helps anyone else. When we moved into our house almost 2 years ago an incident happened that made me constantly super paranoid and completely on edge when I was home alone. My husband then started working over nights, which added to my paranoia and I'd lay in bed scared of every single noise. I felt like I was going crazy. I ate a mostly paleo diet with the occasional gluten-y goodness snack. I started to catch on to a trend where the nights I hadn't eaten gluten I wasn't quite as scared, so I started cutting gluten out for a couple weeks at a time to test my theory. I did some research and discovered there's been a study done on schizophrenia and gluten and there was a noticeable difference in paranoia levels on a GF diet (I failed to save the link). I knew gluten caused inflammation and my knee and back would always hurt more when I've had gluten, so it only made sense that it could cause inflammation in the brain as well which could effect parts that cause paranoia. I'm now about 95% GF (not all restaurant tortilla chips are corn :( ) and my paranoia is much more manageable. I went from regularly dreaming someone lived in our attic or was breaking in to being able to chalk bumps in the night up to the cats messing around.
1st thing I did was cut sugar from my coffee, then I started cutting out unneccesary carbs and have subbed spaghetti squash for pasta and stuff like that. I got into nerdfitness.com and love it. It's a great community.
ReplyDeleteOK, RN here and first I have a few questions...how have you determined you are not able to eat these foods? Has a doctor advised you not to eat them or has it been trial and error or is it just stuff you've read on the internet? Have you had allergy testing done? Have you consulted a gastro-enterologist? Have you had a colonoscopy and/or endoscopy? Have you consulted a registered dietitian (not a nutritionist)? As a nurse, these are the things I would recommend you do. What I strongly recommend against is trying to diagnose and/or treat things based on what you've read on the internet/what "the world" is telling you to do.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has her own digestive issues due to IBS and the after-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, I can tell you that most of the time these are highly personalized. Just because something is on one person's list of IBS triggers it doesn't mean that ALL people with IBS must avoid those foods. If you try to avoid the things that trigger everyone else's IBS, you'll end up literally avoiding all foods (which, I think, is what you're running into here).
The other thing I can tell you is that eating prepared, processed, and packaged foods is the absolutely worst thing you can do if you have major food sensitivity issues. Based on the nutrition education I've had and on my own experiences, while some individual food items may be causing you problems, it's very likely the preservatives and additives in processed and packaged foods that are causing the bulk of your problems. Simply preparing your meals at home, from whole ingredients, no mixes, no boxed foods, no package items, will go a long way to making you feel a whole lot better AND make identifying offending food items much easier.
Best of luck to you and I hope you feel better, soon!
I don't see my comment so I am trying again using my other acct.
ReplyDeleteLast year I started having stomach pains. The kind that kept me from eating and sent me to the ER. This visit was at least successful in ruling out serious things like cancer and pancreatitis, although it could still be gall bladder related. I was taking a prescription pain med for the stomach.
Then in January I some dental work done and couldn't eat much anything - liquid diet. Well, I lost a few pounds (gained those back darn it), but also I stopped having any stomach pain.
Now, I have never been diagnosed with anything as pretty much I have just dealt with the issues I have had with diarrhea and then bloating and constipation at the same time. Which symptom-wise could be considered IBSC. But no one has official diagnosed that because I don't go to the dr, unless it's really bad.
Anyway, because of the dental issue, I realized that part of my problem might be my diet of too much fast food and eating out. The other thing that when I did go to the ER and dr's was that they always asked about constipation and also would prescribe a laxative. I thought I didn't need one because I was usually regular most every day, but I sometimes would have this extra issue of going more depending on what had or had not eaten that day or week. I would take it for a while but then not. Well when I didn't take one it was back to the same old problems of IBSC like symptoms.
Then a friend told me that their gastro dr told them to take a laxative and that all gastro drs do too. The kind that you add to your coffee or drink and stir it in.
Well, I was taking a product called lactoluose that is liquid but in powder form is similar to miralax which is one that the ER dr recommended.
So I now take the laxative every day and when I don't I will pay for it later. I know a med isn't what you asked for and I haven't any food allergies that I know of, but this is what has helped me with my food issues that I do have.
PS When I was having the dental issues I scheduled for a colonoscopy but cancelled it because of recovering from the dental stuff. Since I was doing better and still so 6 months later, I never rescheduled it.
I'm quite fond of the Fiber one protein bars. That sounds gross I know, but they taste like a candybar. Yum. I'm super sorry you can't eat so many things! I'm totally a foodie and would have a terrible time not eating the foods I enjoy. Perhaps just keep trying something new every now and again to find stuff you like and can eat?
ReplyDeleteI have IBS, and the Fodmap diet helped me, but because most people can tolerate some fodmap foods, I feel it's best to try the diet for about two weeks and if it helps, you can start bringing back foods one at a time to see what works for you. For me the game changers were cutting out onions and garlic and using a small amount of garlic powder for recipes that needed it, switching to 100% oatmeal bread, avoiding beans,and cutting out everything in the cabbage family, except for kale, for some reason my stomach can handle it even raw. Also, I've found that cooked vegetables are much easier on the digestion than raw ones. For me, coffee is also a no-no, tea is much better. I use a product called Lactrase when I eat dairy that isn't lactose free, it's probably the same thing as Lactaid? (The product contains the enzyme lactase which breaks up lactose, and if you're lactose intolerant, your body isn't producing it on its own.) The weird thing? When I got pregnant, the IBS disappeared, and I can eat almost anything. Too bad it'll probably come back right after giving birth...
ReplyDeleteYou're saying that 'the world' is telling you that you can't eat all these things, but have you talked to your doctor or a licensed nutritionist about your diet? I can't help thinking that this is a combination of your anxiety problems and the fact that you get SO MUCH of your health advice from strangers on the Internet.
ReplyDeletePerhaps take a step back, consult an expert, and only avoid those foods that the experts recommend. It might free you to stop thinking about what you can't eat and start thinking about what you CAN.
I recently heard about the study mentioned here: http://globalnews.ca/news/2350028/healthy-foods-are-different-depending-on-individual-study/
ReplyDeleteBasically, everyone's body handles different foods differently. You know this better than anybody- you actually went gluten free and it did nothing! So it's probably best to work with a registered dietician and to listen to your body.
Here's my actual recipe idea for you though: a salad with warm sweet potatoes and peaches (you could definitely substitute apples if peaches are a nightshade, and just leave out the tomatoes, or replace with yellow pepper)! http://www.droolworthydaily.com/blog/grilled-peach-and-sweet-potato-salad-with-honey-balsamic-vinaigrette
So you get the salad, but you also get that nice warmth.
Nightshades are - all vegetable peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. These contain steroidal alkaloids that the majority of the population can handle just fine, but for people with sensitivities they cause problems.
DeleteI drink a lot of unsweetened ice tea (I add a little sugar) and water, with a couple Cokes a week. I really like Hint water a lot. It's got no sugar or artificial sweeteners, no fizz, and enough flavor to be a nice change from plain water.
ReplyDeleteFavourite beverage on a hot day - one can of club soda with a splash of fruit juice!
ReplyDeleteGluten free and other avoidances here! I found Isagenix shakes for breakfast make my life easier and my tummy not hurt. There's a dairy free kind too though I don't use it.
ReplyDeleteWe started going to the local independent bookstore and browsing the cookbooks. If we find one that has just a few things that appeal to us, we buy it and kinda work our way through it until we have favorites we can make mostly from memory. Then we go buy a new one and repeat the process. It has cut down on the amount of eating out we do due to always eating the same things.
ReplyDelete